Subcutaneous immunotherapy (allergy shots) can work quickly NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Jun 07 – Subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) is at least as effective as drug therapy in controlling seasonal allergic rhinitis, even in the first season after treatment starts, a new review indicates. Total nasal symptom scores were reduced with SCIT by 34.7% compared to placebo,…
Prevalence and severity of food allergies in the US Previous attempts at quantifying the scope of food allergies among U.S. children have produced a wide range of estimates, from 2% to 8%. From a public health standpoint, getting more details on the main causes of causes of food allergies, and precise demographics of those afflicted,…
“Hypoallergenic” dogs not really hypoallergenic If you are thinking about adopting a dog and someone in your household suffers from pet allergies, you may have been told that certain breeds, including the Portuguese water dog made famous when it was adopted by the Obamas, are less likely to cause symptoms. But this is likely a…
Be food allergy ready this school year Starting the conversation with schools about food allergy preparedness can be a challenge, but it’s an essential step in creating a safe and healthy environment for everyone. The Food Allergy Initiative and the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network have teamed up to create new training and preparedness programs…
Mold exposure during infancy increases asthma risk ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (August 2, 2011) – Infants who live in “moldy” homes are three times more likely to develop asthma by age 7—an age that children can be accurately diagnosed with the condition. Study results are published in the August issue of Annals of Allergy, Asthma &…
Allergy injections as effective as medication as early as first season A recent study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI) found that allergen specific immunotherapy (allergy injections) were at least as effective as medications as early as the first season of treatment. The study involved a review of meta-analyses (large scale…
Sublingual Immunotherapy drops – still little evidence for effectiveness in US March 7, 2012 (Orlando, Florida) — A keen interest in sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) for allergy is evident here at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) 2012 Annual Meeting, but the reported increased use of this therapy in nonresearch settings is “disturbing,”…
CT Magazine again names Dr. Backman a Top Doc Kenneth Backman, MD, who is board certified in Adult and Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, has again been selected as one of the “Top Doctors In Connecticut” by Connecticut Magazine. Dr. Backman received his bachelor of science in Biology with distinction from Yale University, and his medical…
Early life skin contact with peanut may increase risk of peanut allergy A recent study published in Allergy, the European Allergy Journal, found that early life skin exposure to peanut may increase the risk of peanut allergy. Researchers at the Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, St. Thomas’ Hospital in London, looked at the…
Vitamin D insufficiency may increase risk of adverse effects of corticosteroids on bone Inhaled and oral corticosteroids are often used to treat acute and chronic asthma. The negative effects of corticosteroids on bone mineral density are well established, particularly when given orally or intravenously. Vitamin D insufficiency, a condition present in about 55% of the…